Portable icebox



/ll/ ll/ 5 Sheets-Sheet l Q L w i? K. F. NYsTRoM ETAL PORTABLE ICEBox* Filed sept. e, 1940 A mm @u @Q .ww

Nov. 4, 1941.l

Nov. 4, 1941. k'.- F. NYsTRoM ET AL 2,251,484

PORTABLE IGEBox `3 sheets-sheetV v2 Filed Sept. 6, 1940 im NH@ @www wwmw w www Nov. 4? -1941. K. F. NYsTRoM ET AL I 2,261,484

PORTABLE IGEBOX 5 sheets-snaai s Mm w m` M I f5 Il v 4- ,f @s

LI Afl- F'iled Sept. 6, 1940 Patented Nov. 4, 1941 2,261,484;V Y roRTABLE ioEBoX" Karl F. Nystroin, Milwaukee, Wis., VWalterd L. Ennis, Evanston, Ill., and David S. Westover,

Milwaukee, Wis.

Application September 6, 1940; Serial No. 355,624

' 5 claims. (ci. fac-85) Our invention relates to a container or portable ice box for the transportation of perishables of less than car load lots whereby the perishable commodities may be kept at` a proper low degree of temperature and the shipment made in the usual freight cars in which other lading `may also be loaded, thus providing greater economy in freight transportation; the Container or box being of size adapted to the usual freight cars in railroad use.

The invention more particularly stated comprises an insulated boxwherein brine or ice is used as the refrigerant medium for which a suitable container is provided which is preferably located at: one end of the box and so arranged that'proper air circulation about the container and throughout the remainder or lading holding portion of the box is obtained.

' I he invention also contemplates a box provided with a hinged cover coextensive with the length of the box and constituting a portion of the top `and one side and end walls of the box and providing convenient access through a single cover or door to the brine tank or'refrigerant holding container and to the perishable freight holding compartment, with means whereby properwair circulation around `the perishable commodity is provided and proper drain for the box interior also is provided to enable the box to be properly cleaned,

The invention contemplates a comparatively simple and inexpensive structure consisting of easily fabricated parts which may be standardized and readily assembled and whereby proper circulation of air from the lading compartment or' space,Y through the refrigerant containing compartment and in intimate contact with lthe refrigerant medium holding container is obtainedi The invention also contemplates the provision of wheel units beneath opposite ends of the box,

at least one of the wheel units pvoted beneath the box and provided with a pivoted handle which swings upwardly out of the way against one end of the box and held upwardly by suitable means;` providing the immovable top section with brackets for suitably supporting the hinged top and side wall cover section when the latter is in Figure 1 ,is a sectional elevation of our im-` proved icer box, portions of the front side wall and of the cover section being broken away to disclose `internal construction.

Figure 2'is an end elevation with a lower corner the pull-handle in raised easily assembled to provide a sturdy construction adapted to withstand more or less rough usage and which permits access to the entire interior through the manipulation of a single cover section.

The preferredl embodiment of our invention contemplates an outer wall composed of preformed continuous metal sheets which are preferablywelded together; one sheet being formed to constitute the front side and substantially one` half of each end wall; a second sheet being formed to constitute the rear wall and the other half of each sidewall; a third flanged sheet constituting ,the bottom; the side and Yend wall sheets, indicated at 20' and 2I,'being arranged in abutting relation at the ends and preferably welded together and to the flanges of the bottom sheet 22; whilethe top and the cover sections of the box are made of separate sheets, thus providing an all metal outer wall. The wall of the box also involves suitable wood framingv which is suitably secured'to the metal outer wall; the framing for the sidesv and lend walls consisting of the longitudinally disposed members as shown' at 23 and vertically disposed members 24,

with the lapping v'endsr of themembers kerfed as indicated at 25 in Figure 1, in order that the inner faces of therespective members may be flush with each other. The top and bottom also comprise a skeleton frame similar to that shown in Figure 5 except that the members 24 extend transversely of the bottom, see Figure 1.

The frame members 24 are spaced a suitable distance apart for reception of a suitable insulation, preferably cork of considerable thickness,`

as shown at 26, which is secured in place by the inner lining 21 which preferably consists of plywood of proper thickness; the plywood lining being secured to the frame members.

The inner wall is preferably made in sections consisting of the, skeleton framing, filled with the cork insulation and the plywood lining and constituting a top panel, end panels, side panels anda floor panel', thus providing standard wall units which may be easily assembled and put into place in the metallic box; the respective panels being separately put into place and the framing of the respective wall panels secured to the outer metal' sheets. 'I'he respective panels are so made that a certain amount of clearance at all framing joints is provided, as shown at 28, and these'corners or spaced joints are closed by quarter round strips as shown at 29.

The bottom panel is provided with trans-A versely spaced floor rack members extending 1 lengthwisely of the lading holding compartment well as longitudinally throughout the bottom of.

the box and beneath the commodity in the box. The front and rear walls and one end Wall are likewise provided with similar strips or slats 32 disposed longitudinally of the front and rear walls and transversely of the end wall; the slats on their rear longitudinal edges being also cut out in a manner similar to the floor slats 30 and indicated in dotted lines at 3| in Figure 1. The slats are all secured to the respective plywood sheets or panel lining by means of screws. The slats maintain the commodity in proper spaced relation with the inner walls and the iioor of the box to afford air circulation between the cornmodity and the inner walls and proper air circulation between the bottom and top of the commodity holding compartment or chamber is afforded by the plurality of slots or cut-outs 3| in the respective slats.

The floor of the commodity compartment is preferably provided with a clean-out opening as at 33, see Figure l, which is normally closed by a suitable plug 34 shown fianged to provide a ush seating relation with the plywood lining around the drain opening.

One end of the box is separated from the main or commodity-holding compartment by a suitable wire mesh screen 35 preferably made of galvanized iron and having a metal frame which is secured in place by angle irons 36, 35 secured to the top and bottom panels of the box, as shown in Figure 1. The screen 35 extends from top to bottom and from front to rear of the box and at a distance from one end wall to provide a compartment for the refrigerant holding container 31 which also is preferably made of galvanized iron with its upper end provided with a plurality of stamped out louvre forming portions as shown at 38; the top toward the forward side being provided with a anged cover 39 adapted to eiTect a snug lapping iit with the walls of the container 31, while the remainderof the top is immovably secured in place. The container is of dimensions somewhat less than the inside dimensions of the compartment to provide a spaced relation with the inner walls of the box, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, to permit proper air circulation and has a closed bottom 40.

The bottom of the compartment is provided with a suitable number of spaced apart short wood blocks 4| for supporting a drip pan 42 of dimensions, longitudinally and transversely somewhat larger than the container 31 in order to catch the condensation. The drip pan 42 is preferably provided with a plurality of transversely disposed inverted copper channels 43 secured to the pan and their lower longitudinal sides notched as at 44 to permit proper draining of the pan which is preferably provided withy a small drain pipe lleading through to the box exterior.

The bottom of the ice holding tank is imperforate so as to retain the cold brine or water resulting from the thawing ice and thus assist in maintaining a low temperature.

The longitudinal sides of the tank 31, adjacent the bottom, are provided with depending bracket plates 45, 45 which snugly engaged about the drip pan 42, as shown in Figure 1, and maintain proper relation between the tank and the drip pan.

The forward longitudinal wall 20 is of less height than the opposite rear wall and the upper forward ends of the two end walls are tapered rearwardly as shown at 46 in Figure 4 to the immovable top wall 41, thus providing an opening the full length of the upper longitudinal edge of the box. The opening is provided with a cover 48, of angular cross-section provided with triangular end walls 49, 49, which match the sloping upper portions of the box end walls. That is to say, the cover 48 constitutes a part of the box top and the upper part of one side wall thus providing an opening the full length of the box which affords access to the entire commodity holding compartment and also to the removable cover 39 of the tank 31.

The top cover 48 is hingedly secured at 50 to the main top portion 41 of the box so as to swing upwardly toward the opposite side of the box and at its forward side is provided with a hand grasp 52. In order that the cover (which is of considerable weight) may be held in partially elevated position and 'thus be more easily operated, the permanent top 41 of the box is provided with a pair of rearwardly sloping brackets 53 which hold the cover 48 in the elevated position shown in Figure 4 while at the same time completely uncovering the opening.

For the purpose of properly sealing the opening when the cover 48 is in closed position, the marginal edges of the cover are provided with thick half-round rubber strips 54.

Thercover 48 is of construction similar to that of the box, with an outer wall of sheet steel, a framing 'of longitudinal and transverse members 23, 24, arranged to provide pockets for reception of the insulation or cork 26, secured in place by the plywood inner lining 21.

The front side of the cover, adjacent its lower edge, is provided with a staple 55 adapted to extend through a hasp 56 which is pivotally secured l. to a lever 51 which is fulcrumed at its upper of the box when lever 51 is swung downwardly after hasp 55 has been inserted over the staple 55, thus making unauthorized access to the shipment impossible.

The bottom of the box is provided with two Apairs of wheels at opposite ends; the journal of the one pair of Wheels being mounted in a suitable bracket GU secured to the bottom of the box, while the journal of the other pair is mounted in the depending ends of the cross beam 6| of Va center bearing which involves a king pin or bolt 62 which extends downwardly through one of the cross timbers of the floor framing. The bolt 62 is inserted through a hole in the plywood lining and the hole in the plywood is covered with a steel plate 63.

. The swiveled axle 6| has a tongue or shaft 64 pivotally secured thereto and the outer end of the tongue or shaft is provided with a suitable bail or hand grasp 65. The axle 6l is preferably provided with lugs 66, which extend slightly beyond the end wall of the box to which the tongue or shaft is pivotally secured, thus enabling the tongue to be swung upwardly adjacent the end wall of the box when not in use and be held in raised position by a suitable ring 61 secured to the end wall of the box, see Figure 2.

The invention has been described in terms employed for purposes of description and not as terms of limitation as structural modifications may be made without, however,` departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A portable ice box composed of sheet metal,

disposed mesh screen arranged transversely adp jacent one end of the box; a refrigerant holding metallic container disposed intermediate of the mesh screen and the end wall of the box; means f whereby the container'is maintained in spaced relation with the walls and floor of the box and air circula-tion thereabout permitted; and wheels secured to the bottom at each end of the box.

2. A portable ice box composed of sheet metal and of rectangular shape, with the upper portions of one side and the two end walls and a portion of the top wall constituting a lid or cover of triangular cross-section hingedly secured at one longitudinal side whereby an opening coextensive with the length of the box is provided; the interior wall of the box consisting of separately formed side, end, top and bottom sections each composed of rectangular;a wood framing, the spacing wherein is iilled with cork and plywood lining secured to one side of the framing and constituting the inner lining of the box; sealing strips for the junctures between the respective sections; and spacer strips secured to the sides, one end andthe bottom in spaced relation, said strips being provided with transversely arranged air passages.

3. A portable ice box, for the shipment of perishables, composed ofA sheet metal intimately secured together' and of rectangular shape, with the upper portion of one side wall and the two end walls and a portion of the top constituting a lid or cover of triangular cross-section coextensive with the length of the box and hingedly secured at one longitudinal side to swing upwardly; the interior wall of the box consisting of separately formed sections and composed of rectangular wood framing with cross-strips to provide a plurality of pockets, insulating material arranged in said pockets and a lining sheet secured to the framing so as to house the insulation between the metal box wall and said lining sheet; sealing strips for the junctures between the respective sections; spacer strips secured in spaced relation to the sides, one end and to the bottom, said strips being provided with transversely arranged air passages; a wire mesh screen arranged transversely at one end of the box for separating the commodity holding compartment from the refrigerant holding compartment; a refrigerant holding tank provided with air passages in its upper wall, the tank being arranged in spaced relation with the tank Walls; and means whereby air circulation beneath the tank is permitted.

4. A portable ice box for shipment of perishables having an outer wall of sheet metal sections intimately secured together to provide an elongated rectangular box with the upper portions of one side wall and the two ends and a portion of the top wall constituting a lid or cover of triangular cross-section coextensive with the length of the box and hingedly secured to the top wall of the box to swing upwardly, the marginal edges of the lid being provided with air sealing means; the inner wall of the box consisting of separately made sections, each composed of rectangular wood framing formed to provide insulation holding pockets and panels secured to the framing across the insulation pockets and constituting the inner lining of the box; sealing means for the junctures between the respective sections; spacer strips secured in spaced relation to said panels and provided with transversely arranged air passages; a wire mesh screen arranged transversely at one end of the box to provide a refrigerant holding compartment coextensive with the width and heighth of the box; an ice holding tank in said compartment provided with air passages through the upper ends of its side walls and having a reinovable cover; a drip pan for receiving the lower end of the 'tank and having channel members, provided with transverse passages, whereby the tank is held in spaced relation with the bottom of said pan, said pan being immovably supported in spaced air circulating relation with the bottom of the box; and bracket members secured to the tank for maintaining the relation between the tank and said drip pan.

5. A portable ice box comprising an outer` metal wall of elongated rectangular construction with the upper part of one longitudinal side and the upper parts of the two end walls and a por-` tion of the top constituting a cover coextensive with the length of the box; an inner wall of separately formed sections, each consisting' of rectangular framing, a plywood panel securedto the framing and cork lling for Athe pockets formed by the framing and panel, the respective sections being adapted to be set in the metal box and the framing secured thereto; sealing strips for the junctures between the sections; a wire mesh screen arranged transversely at one end of the box to form a refrigerant tank holding compartment; spaced blocks secured to the oor of said compartment with a drip pan secured on said blocks, said pan being provided with spaced channels in its bottom having transverse passages therethrough; an ice holding tank seated in said pan on the channels and provided with means for maintaining proper relation with said pan; rack means secured on the walls and floor of the box and provided with air passages arranged transversely thereof; and a pair of wheels on the bottom at each end of the box, the pair at one end being swiveled and provided with a pull tongue adapted to swing upwardly against the end of the box.

, KARL F. WALTER L. ENNIS.

DAVID S. WESTOVER. 

